Decaffeinated Coffee

by Maria
(Phoenix Arizona USA)

QUESTION:

I've heard the chemical(s) used in decaf is (are) not safe to drink?? Is this true??

ANSWER:

The coffee decaffeination process is usually achieved with a chemical solvent.

Which solvent? Methylene chloride is used to absorb the caffeine from the coffee bean. Then the beans are washed clean of the chemical.

That said, it is not unreasonable to wonder whether all the chemical is removed, or whether some of it is absorbed and remains in the bean.

The alternative is the Swiss Water method, which uses no chemicals.

If you are concerned about the methylene chloride, look for coffees that are decaffeinated using the Swiss Water method.

You can read more about this on our gourmet decaf coffee page.